ANDY Holroyd's Ribblesdale League record haul of catches behind the stumps is helping him catch up for lost time after getting hitched Down Under.

The Cherry Tree wicket-keeper claimed 40 victims last summer to win the league award.

But he missed the bulk of the early season this time around when he went to Australia to get married to his Adelaide bride Leeanne.

His league best seven catches against Settle last Saturday has moved him up to 11 and settled back behind the stumps Holroyd - who played D grade cricket while spending six months in Australia a couple of winters ago - has his sights set on a repeat of last season's league and Ramsbottom Cup double.

However, he is not expecting such an easy ride this time. "It was only really Clith- eroe who pushed us last year while there are a lot of other teams this year.

"Padiham were a good young side last year and have come through, Great Harwood have got their act together and are playing well, Clitheroe are still there and Earby have come good again as they do every couple of years," he added.

Holroyd also rates Barnoldswick - who bowled out Padiham for 79 last weekend - as a dangerous outfit with some potential match-winners in their side and they present Cherry Tree with their next test tomorrow. Holroyd enjoyed a successful two days last weekend as Cherry Tree followed up their league success with a five-run win over Great Harwood to book their place against Earby in the final of the Ramsbottom Cup.

And the stand-in skipper, doing something of an Alex Stewart in the absence of the injured David Hayes, proved his all-round value by scoring 58 at number three to help push the game beyond Great Harwood's reach - despite a Paul Houldsworth-inspired fightback which left Harwood just five runs short.

"It was a bit nerve-wracking for the last 12 overs," Holroyd admitted. "They never looked like getting there until the end. We were hoping to get another 30 runs which would certainly have won it for us but Paul Houldsworth batted superbly."

Cherry Tree's defence of the league crown stayed on course as Holroyd teamed up with John Hughes and professional Mohammad Naeem Ashraf to see off Settle.

The threat of Settle professional Surendra Bhave didn't materialise as he fell to the Holroyd-Ashraf combination and that set the tone for the afternoon.

"He was the first one to fall. It went off his gloves and on to his thigh pad and I don't think he was too impressed," said the keeper.

FIXTURES: Barnoldswick v Cherry Tree; Baxenden v Oswaldtwistle; Blackburn N v Edenfield; Great Harwood v Earby; Read v Ribblesdale W; Settle v Clitheroe; Whalley v Padiham

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